David Benyamine

Before his poker career, David Benyamine was a professional tennis player, but was forced to retire due to shoulder pain. Benyamine was by no means a late starter in poker though, learning the game at the age of 12 and playing regularly in high-stakes cash games. He has reportedly never read a single book on poker, meaning he is thought of as a naturally gifted player, learning solely from real experience.

Hailing from Paris, France - where he was also a successful, top-ten ranking Billiards player - Benyamine now lives in Henderson, Nevada. He is married to fellow professional poker player Erica Schoenberg, with whom he has a child.

Benyamine won the Grand Prix Paris, banking an impressive €357, 800. This significant success is cited as the big push in his career, and he has since gone on to make over $3 million from poker alone.